This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 96143773, filed on Nov. 19, 2007. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of specification.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input apparatus for a computer system and an operation method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to an input apparatus for a computer system and an operation method thereof, in which a mouse operation method is combined.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional input apparatus for a computer system includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, etc. Wherein, an input method of the keyboard is to press keys on the keyboard for data inputting, and the mouse and the touch panel are provided for a user to operate the computer system on a two-dimensional plane.
However, under some special circumstances, for example, computer game playing, the conventional input apparatus cannot provide a convenience input method. Therefore, a plurality of special input apparatus, such as a joystick is developed. Though operation of the computer game can be more interesting via such special input apparatus, it is still not so realistic.
Recently, some computer game providers have developed a technique for operating the computer game via action modes of the user in a three-dimensional space, so as to greatly improve interest and reality of the computer game. However, the conventional technique can only be applied to fixed hosts and game software, and is not suitable for all of the games, so that universalness and convenience thereof are greatly reduced.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an input apparatus for a computer system, which can be universally applied to various computer systems and game software.
The present invention is directed to a multifunction optical mouse, which may have diversified operation modes, so that a user may operate a computer system with a more realistic manner.
The present invention is directed to a method for operating a computer system, by which a user may operate the computer system with a more intuitive and realistic manner.
The present invention provides an input apparatus for a computer system. The input apparatus comprises an image object, a prime motion detector, and a receiver. The image object has a plurality of positioning light sources for providing a light beam with a predetermined wavelength. Moreover, the prime motion detector includes an optical mouse module, a first G-sensor and an image detection unit, which may detect a movement state of the prime motion detector in a three-dimensional space or a two-dimensional plane, and output a first detecting data. Wherein, the image detection unit is used for receiving the light beam sent from the positioning light sources. The receiver is coupled to the computer system via a transmission interface, and receives the first detecting data output from the prime motion detector via a wireless transmission path. By such means, the receiver generates an operation command according to the first detecting data, and transmits the operation command to the computer system via the transmission interface for operating the computer system.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the input apparatus further includes an assistant motion detector having a second G-sensor, which may detect a movement state of the assistant motion detector in a three-dimensional space, and generate a second detecting data. Similarly, the assistant motion detector can transmit the second detecting data to the receiver via the wireless transmission path for operating the computer system.
The present invention provides a multifunction optical mouse suitable for a computer system. The optical mouse includes an image detection unit, a G-sensor, a mouse module, a switch unit and a micro control unit (MCU). The image detection unit is used for detecting a light beam with a first wavelength sent from an external light source, and outputting a relative position data. The G-sensor detects a movement state of the optical mouse in a three-dimensional space for outputting a G-sensing data on each coordinate axis in the three-dimensional space. Moreover, the mouse module is used for detecting a movement state of the optical mouse on a plane, and outputting a plane coordinates data. Wherein, output terminals of the image detection unit, the G-sensor and the mouse module are all coupled to the switch unit, and the switch unit selects to output one of the plane coordinates data, the relative position data and the G-sensing data according to a selection signal. Moreover, the MCU is coupled an output terminal of the switch unit for encoding an output of the switch unit, and generating a detecting data for operating the computer system.
In an embodiment of the present invention, when the selection signal is in a first state, the switch unit selects to transmit the outputs of the image detection unit and the G-sensor to the MCU.
Moreover, when the MCU detects that within a predetermined time, the G-sensing data on each coordinate axis in the three-dimensional space output from the G-sensor is maintained within a predetermined range, the MCU switches the selection signal to a second state, so that the switch unit may select to transmit the plane coordinates data to the MCU.
In another embodiment, when the MCU detects that the G-sensing data on a height-axis in the three-dimensional space output from the G-sensor is maintained within a predetermined range, the MCU switches the selection signal to a second state, so that the switch unit may select to transmit the plane coordinates data to the MCU.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the prime motion detector further includes a touch switch coupled to the switch unit. When the touch switch is disabled, the selection signal is then output in the first state, so that the switch unit selects to transmit the relative position data and the G-sensing data to the MCU. Comparatively, when the touch switch is enabled, the selection signal is then output in the second state, so that the switch unit selects to transmit the plane coordinates data to the MCU.
Moreover, in the present invention, a gate switch can be applied to substitute the touch switch. Wherein, when the gate switch is closed, the gate switch outputs the selection signal in the first state, so that the switch unit selects to transmit the relative position data and the G-sensing data to the MCU. Moreover, when the gate switch is opened, the gate switch outputs the selection signal in the second state, so that the switch unit selects to transmit the plane coordinates data to the MCU.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the mouse module includes a light-emitting source, an optical lens and a light-sensing unit. The light-emitting source provides a light beam having a predetermined wavelength, and the optical lens is disposed at an output terminal of the light-emitting source for focusing the light beam having the predetermined wavelength. Moreover, an output terminal of the light-sensing unit is coupled to an input terminal of the switch unit. The light-sensing unit is used for sensing a reflection light of the light beam having the predetermined wavelength, and outputting the plane coordinates data to the switch unit.
When a second sensor does not sense a reflection light of a light beam having a second wavelength, the selection signal is in a first state, so that the switch unit selects to transmit the relative position data and the G-sensing data to the MCU. When the second sensor senses the reflection light of the light beam having the second wavelength, the selection signal is in a second state, to that the switch unit selects to transmit the plane coordinates data to the MCU.
The present invention provides a method for operating a computer system. The method can be described as follows. First, a G-sensor is applied for detecting a movement state of an operation part in a three-dimensional space, and generating a G-sensing data corresponding to each coordinate axis of the three-dimensional space. Next, relative positions between a plurality of positioning light sources and the operation terminal are detected to generate a relative position data. When the operation part is judged to be only moved in a two-dimensional plane, a movement state of the operation part in the two-dimensional plan is detected to generate a plane coordinates data. Moreover, the plane coordinates data is encoded, or the G-sensing data and the relative position data are encoded to generate a detecting data for operating the computer system.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes transmitting the detecting data from the operation part to a receiver via a wireless transmission path, and transmitting the detecting data from the receiver to a computer system via a transmission interface, so as to operate the computer system according to the detecting data.
Since the input apparatus of the present invention includes a prime motion detector having an image detection unit and a G-sensor, which may detect a movement state of the prime motion detector in the three-dimensional space. Therefore, a user may operate the computer system with a more intuitive, realistic and less limitation manner. Moreover, in the present invention, a receiver is applied, and is coupled to the computer system via a universal transmission interface. By such means, the present invention can be applied to various computer application software or computer games.
Moreover, since the mouse module is applied for the user to operate the computer system via different manners, so that utilization of the present invention can be more flexible and practicable.
In order to make the aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention comprehensible, a preferred embodiment accompanied with figures is described in detail below.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Besides the prime motion detector 104, in some other embodiments, the input apparatus may further include an assistant motion detector 108. Similarly, the assistant motion detector 108 can also receive the light beam 116 generated by the positioning light sources 112 and 114, and sense an action of the user 130 to generate a detecting data DD2. Similarly, the assistant motion detector 108 can also transmit the detecting data DD2 to the host 124 via the wireless transmission path 142.
Moreover, the prime motion detector 104 further includes an image detection unit 210 and a mouse module 212. The image detection unit 210 is for example a light sensor which may detect the light beam 116 emitted from the light sources 112 and 114 in the image object 102 of
In the present embodiment, the MCU 202 further outputs a selection signal SEL to the switch unit 310, so that the switch unit 310 can determine an output data according to a state of the selection signal SEL. For example, when the selection signal SEL has a first state, the switch unit 310 can transmit an output D1 of the G-sensor 304 and an output D2 of the image detection unit 210 to the MCU 302. Comparatively, when the selection signal SEL has a second state, the switch unit 310 can transmit an output D3 of the mouse module 212 to the MCU 302.
To be specific, in the step S504, the G-sensor 304 may detect accelerations of the prime motion detector 104 on different coordinates axes in the three-dimensional space, and in step 506, a G-sensing data D1 on each coordinate axis is generated to the switch unit 310. Moreover, the key-sensing unit 306 may detect a state of each key on the prime motion detector 104. When one of the keys is enabled, the key-sensing unit 306 generates a corresponding input signal S1 (step S508) to the switch unit 310. On the other hand, when the light-sensing unit 210 receives the light beam 116 sent from the light sources 112 and 114 (shown as
Assuming an initial state of the selection signal SEL is the first state, and accordingly the switch unit 310 may transmit the G-sensing data D1 and the relative position data D2 to the MCU 302. Next, in step S512, the MCU 302 determines whether or not the G-sensing data D1 on different coordinates axes in the three-dimensional space output from the G-sensor 304 is maintained to a predetermined range within a predetermined time. If the G-sensing data output from the G-sensor 304 is as that shown in
Comparatively, when the G-sensing data output from the G-sensor 304 is as that shown in
After the step S514 or the step S518 is completed, the MCU 302 outputs the detecting data DD1 to the wireless transmitting unit 308, and determines whether or not the wireless transmitting unit 308 is ready to transmit the detecting data DD1, as that described in step S520. Assuming the MCU 302 judges the wireless transmitting unit 308 cannot transmit the detecting data DD1 (i.e. “no” marked in the step S520) due to some reasons, such as relatively great interference on the wireless transmission path 142, the step S520 is then repeated until the MCU 302 judges the wireless transmitting unit 308 is ready to transmit the detecting data DD1 (i.e. “yes” marked in the step S520). Next, in step 522, the wireless transmitting unit 308 transmits the detecting data DD1 to the receiver 106 via the wireless transmission path 142. Moreover, in step S524, the MCU 302 further checks whether or not transmission of the detecting data DD1 is successful.
If the MCU 302 judges that transmission of the detecting data DD1 is not successful (i.e. “no” marked in the step S524), the step S522 is then repeated. Comparatively, if the MCU 302 judges that transmission of the detecting data DD1 is successful (i.e. “yes” marked in the step S524), the step S504 is then repeated for continually transmitting latest detecting data to the receiver 106.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, in the step S512 of
Comparatively, when the prime motion detector 104 is taken as an optical mouse and is moved on a plane, the touch switch 702 is then enabled as that shown in
When the gate switch 1002 is closed, the selection signal SEL having the first state is output to the switch unit 310, so that the switch unit 310 can transmit the G-sensing data D1 and the relative position data D2 to the MCU 302. Comparatively, when the prime motion detector 104 is utilized as the optical mouse, the gate switch 1002 is then opened as that shown in
Referring to
A plurality of function keys 1202, 1204, 1206 and 1208 are disposed on the assistant motion detector 108. Wherein, the key 1202 is a 4-way navigation key, and the key 1208 is for example a power key. Particularly, a joystick 1210 can be disposed on the assistant motion detector 108.
Next, the MCU 1304 further decodes the G-sensing data D1 to obtain a motion information (step S1408). The motion information includes accelerations of the G-sensor 304 on different coordinates axes in the three-dimensional space. Moreover, in step S1410, the MCU 1304 generates a motion command.
In detail, after the MCU 1304 obtains the motion information, in step S1412, whether or not the motion information can be identified is determined. If the MCU 1304 can identify such motion information (i.e. “yes” marked in the step S1412), in step S1414, a corresponding motion type is selected, for example, a straight line or an arc line movement behaviour. Moreover, if the MCU 1304 cannot identify the motion information (i.e. “no” marked in the step S1412), in step S1416, a similar motion type is then selected according to calculated motion types. Accordingly, the MCU 1304 generates the motion command according to the selected motion type.
Besides decoding the G-sensing data D1, in step S1420, the MCU 1304 further decodes the relative position data D2 to obtain a virtual coordinates information. Next, in step SI 422, a type of the input signal generated by pressing a key on the prime motion detector 104 is identified, so as to generate a corresponding control information. Next, in step S1424, the MCU 1304 encodes the motion command, the virtual coordinates information and the control information to generate an operation command CO to the input/output interface unit 1306. After the input/output interface unit 1306 receives the operation command CO, the operation command CO can be transmitted to the host 124 via the transmission interface 122, so that the computer system 120 can be operated according to the operation command CO.
Next, in step S1508, the MCU 1304 converts a mouse command according to the type of the input signal. For example, when the key 202 (shown in
In summary, the present invention has at least the following advantages:
1. The prime motion detector and assistant motion detector of the present invention respectively include the image detection unit and the G-sensor, which can detect a movement state of the action detector. Therefore, when the user operates the computer system, he may have a more convenient, realistic and intuitive feeling.
2. Moreover, since the receiver of the present invention is connected to the computer system via a universal transmission interface such as a USB, an IEEE 1394, a serial interface, a parallel interface, and a PCMCIA, etc., the present invention can be applied to various computer systems, not only the fixed host. Besides, during the initialization, different motion types are set for operating the computer system. Therefore, the present invention is suitable for various application software.
3. According to another aspect, since the prime motion detector includes the mouse module, the prime motion detector can be operated as a wireless optical mouse, so that utilization of the present invention can be more flexible, practicable and diversified.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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96143773 | Nov 2007 | TW | national |